We all look forward to the holidays. However, it is also during this time when we tend to eat more unhealthy food. The cakes, sweets, candies and those deliciously holiday indulgences that are in abundance around the holidays can be extremely bad to our health yet simply hard to resist. So here’s a healthy tip to make sure you get through the holiday season with as little damage to your waistline as possible—just make sure to load up your winter recipes with these three ingredients:

Allspice

Also known as Jamaica pepper, this bakery staple according to some studies has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can help mitigate the severity of E. coli. A significant amount of allspice oil however has been thought to actually promote inflammation including induced nausea and vomiting.

Anise

This popular ingredient is commonly used for holiday cookies because of the lovely, aromatic flavor it brings. It is also one of the oldest plants used for medicinal purposes. Studies have shown that it’s a source of antioxidants and could also serve as a muscle relaxant. Plus, there’s evidence that it could even help with hot flashes and digestion.

Cinnamon

This basic baking ingredient, commonly used in Chinese medications is highly recommended for its antioxidants and helps maintain the amount of protein called Glutathione, or GSH which offers protection against free radical damage. It has also shown to help lower the blood sugar levels in diabetics with a study in 2015 indicating it could be used in addition to traditional medications to manage type 2 diabetes. However, there is still a lot of research that needs to be done, particularly on its effectiveness and safety.

Those with high blood pressure could also benefit from adding a sprinkling on their oatmeal, as one study in animals showed that it helped lower blood pressure readings. In humans, a small study of only 59 people indicated that those who supplemented their diets with cinnamon experienced a decrease in systolic blood pressure.

Related Article: Cinnamon For Weight Loss

Of course, you will still want to limit how many cookies and cakes you indulge in this holiday season. And much of this research is not indicative of actual evidence, so take everything with a grain of salt, or cinnamon.

Originally posted at Newsweek

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